Brief History of St. John’s Lodge No. 3

St. John’s Lodge No. 3 is one of the first three Lodges established in Liberia. It was founded on Carey Street, Monrovia, in 1857 by the pioneers of Freemasonry in Liberia. After its formation, the Lodge joined Oriental Lodge No. 1 of Monrovia and St. Paul Lodge No. 2 of Clay‑Ashland to form the Grand Lodge of Liberia.

The first Worshipful Master of St. John’s Lodge was Wor. Bro. Beverly Page Yates, one of the Founders of Masonry in Liberia, later became the first Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Liberia.

Throughout Liberian Masonic history, St. John’s Lodge has produced one Vice President, Rt. Wor. Bro. Beverly P. Yates and two Presidents: Wor. Bro. (Rev.) Garreston W. Gibson and Most Wor. Bro. William R. Tolbert Jr., 33°. Upon completion of the Masonic Temple in 1967, St. John’s Lodge, along with Oriental and Cedar Lodges, found a permanent home in the new Temple in Monrovia, Montserrado County.

The Lodge thrived until 1980, when the military takeover banned all Masonic activities. In 1988, Freemasonry was restored, and St. John’s Lodge was reactivated, though still recovering from the devastating effects of the regime, which had exiled, displaced, or claimed the lives of many members.

Wor. Bro. J. Saba Kla‑Williams served as Worshipful Master until 1990, when he left the country due to the crisis. Wor. Bro. J. M. Bankole Jarett became Worshipful Master in 2000, but renewed hostilities soon caused Masonic activities to cease again.

In 2003, Lodges were permitted to resume labor. Rt. Wor. Bro. Sandei A. Cooper Sr. served as the reactivating Master and, in 2004, obtained permission from the Grand Master to Enter, Pass, and Raise twelve candidates on October 24 ,  personally encouraging and sponsoring their initiation to boost membership.

As of 2026 (6026 A.L.), St. John’s Lodge has enjoyed twenty‑two years of uninterrupted progress, electing its Masters and Wardens in peaceful succession.

Due to the destruction caused by the civil war, the original Charter of St. John’s Lodge was lost or destroyed. On [date to be inserted], a Charter of Dispensation was granted by Grand Master [Name to be inserted], with the following Officers and Members as Petitioners:

1. ………………………… Worshipful Master
2. ………………………… Senior Warden
3. ………………………… Secretary
4. Wor. Bro. Robert J. S. Gooding Sr.
5. Bro. Aaron B. Milton

Leadership Roster – 2026 / 6026

Enduring Past Masters

Wor. Bro. Peter B. Natt
Wor. Bro. Leroy J. Hughes Sr., 32°
Wor. Bro. Larmie Fahnbulleh
Wor. Bro. Victor Fares
Wor. Bro. Bobby W. Livingstone
Wor. Bro. Edwin J. Clarke Jr., 32°
Wor. Bro. Fomba T. Sirleaf 33°
Rt. Wor. Bro. Emmanuel D. Howe
Wor. Bro. Arnold B. Flahn 32°
Wor. Bro. Aaron R. Mathies
Wor. Bro. Reginald B. Holder 33°

Virtual Past Masters

Wty. Bro. Samuel A. Stryker Jr.
Wty. Bro. Oluyewa Bamidele Ariyo 32°

Past Masters (Deceased)*

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Master Masons

Bro. Zeze R. Reed
Bro. Thomas Karpeh
Bro. S. Augustine Paylord Weah
Bro. M. Dalia Rogers
Bro. Levi Dio Robertson
Bro. Felix Antoine
Bro. Amos Jallah
Bro. Ulric Freeman
Bro. Victor Folleh
Bro. Cherif Abdallah
Bro. Lewis Kaijuwa
Bro. Achim Abdallah
Bro. Kanio Bai Gbala
Bro. Rodney K. Brown
Bro. Eddie Wangalo (s)
Bro. Koigoi Gborkorkollie (s)
Bro. Leslie Blankson (s)
Bro. Joseph G. Kollie (d)
Bro. Oliver P. Dillon (d)
Bro. Mario Byrd (d)